Tribune News Service
Panchkula, July 7
A 24-year-old executive of a software company drowned in an unguarded swimming pool at Hotel North Park, Sector 32, here late last night. He had gone to attend a party with five colleagues.
(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)
According to the police, six youths — victim Hanish Aery, Baljeet, Rajesh, Gagandeep, Ashish and Rohan — left their office, Toronto Software Company, IT Park, for merrymaking after work at 10 pm. All of them reportedly had drinks at a tavern in Sector 26, Chandigarh, and then left for Panchkula on three bikes.
The youths parked their vehicles at the hotel parking and entered the pool side from the garden area on the sly. CCTV footage of the hotel shows Hanish and his friends entering the pool at 12.41 am. While his friends were chatting, Hanish removed his clothes and jumped into the pool. According to his family, he did not know how to swim.
The point where he jumped into the pool was three-foot deep, but later he reached a point which was seven-foot deep. Seeing him drift towards the deep end, Ashish jumped into the water to save him, but finding himself in trouble, he came out and informed his friends at 12.47 pm. Following this, all of them fled from the spot.
Later, the hotel staff were informed by one of them. On coming to know about the incident, the victim’s family also rushed to the spot. The police took out the body at 3.40 am. After a postmortem at the General Hospital, Sector 6, his body was handed over to his family.
The investigating officer of the case, Rakesh Kumar, said, “We are waiting for the postmortem report to ascertain the exact cause of his death and whether or not he was under the influence of liquor. We have also sent the viscera for a forensic examination.” The deceased was staying with his family at Rail Vihar in Mansa Devi Complex.
Youth informed hotel staff
A front desk assistant at the hotel, Jaspal, told the police that they had no idea when the youths entered the pool area. They learnt about it only after a youth came to them at 12.49 am saying that someone had drowned in the pool. Jaspal raised the alarm following which two youths, who were running away, were nabbed. The police were informed at 1.30 am.
All friends had drinks at a tavern
According to the police, six youths — victim Hanish Aery, Baljeet, Rajesh, Gagandeep, Ashish and Rohan — left their office, Toronto Software Company, IT Park, for merrymaking after work at 10 pm. All of them reportedly had drinks at a tavern in Sector 26, Chandigarh, and then left for Panchkula on three bikes where the incident took place.